KICK-OFF: Rawlings has lofty ambitions

TREVOR Rawlings is hopeful his side have the tools in place to launch a promotion bid next season.

Rawlings’ men finished seventh in the Toolstation League First Division last term but the Southbank boss concedes that his team suffered due their below-par start to the season.

Corsham have signed goalkeeper Steve Allison, defender Sam Ockwell and striker Levi Cox, all from Wootton Bassett Town, with midfielder Callum Elms re-joining the club from Radstock Town and centre-back Gary Blackwood returning to fitness after missing the whole of last season through injury.

“We want to be up there challenging, just like our aim has been for the last two years,” said Rawlings.

“Our form from November onwards last year was promotion form but it was the start that let us down.

“Already, we’ve got a handful of players that are away for the first game – we seem to like to do it the hard way at Corsham.

“We’ve pretty much managed to retain everyone from last year’s squad that we wanted to, which is really important because in previous seasons.

“We always seem to lose five or six players and then bring in a different five or six to replace them.

“The three lads we’ve brought in from Wootton Bassett are some great signings for us and I know that other sides wanted them. (Swindon) Supermarine were after Steve and Highworth and Bassett both wanted to get hold of Sam and Levi.”

Rawlings has also added to his management team ahead of the upcoming campaign, with former Calne Town boss Ant Brown joining as his assistant and Pete Ralph coming in as fitness coach.

He added: “Ant has come in from Wootton Bassett to help me out and that’s great because he replaces Stuart Dryden, who has left.

“Pete Ralph did our pre-season and should hopefully be with us throughout the season – I know the lads really enjoyed the work he did without the ball.”

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